What has been happening in the market?
The Scottish recruitment market has remained resilient and has seen slight fluctuations in vacancy numbers in comparison the UK as an overall which has shown signs of cooling in Q3. Some keys points below:
Hiring Trends
- 89% of UK businesses actively recruited in Q3 2024, up from 80% in the same quarter of 2023
- We’ve had most movement at HR Advisor/HR Business Partner level with candidates still keen to progress, gain more experience/exposure and to gain more strategic experience
- The average time to hire was 4.8 weeks, with larger businesses taking longer to fill vacancies – bear in mind this can mean, you lose out on top talent!
Candidate Availability and Preferences
- Candidates are still prioritising salary and benefits, with 89% ranking it as the top priority
- Flexibility and hybrid working options still remain crucial for attracting top talent
Sector-Specific Insights
- There has been a continuation in the rise of Learning & Development roles from Q2 into Q3 with businesses showing and investing in their commitment to employee growth.
- Talent Acquisition opportunities are also on the increase after there being a long time where there were no suitable opportunities available and businesses scaling back on their T/A teams
- The interim and fractional market in Scotland is seeing strong demand, particularly in administration, HR, and finance
Top Recruitment Challenges
- Finding candidates with the right skills
- Time pressure to fill open roles
- Lengthy time to hire
- Meeting salary expectations
- Meeting flexible working expectations
Interim/Fractional Market
Taking on temporary workers continues to be on the rise and there is a strong case for employers to bolster workforces and bridge skills gaps. With new employment legislation introduced, there are several reasons as to why there could be an increase in contractors going into 2025:
- Hiring contractors allows for greater flexibility in scaling up or down
- The introduction of day-one rights for unfair dismissal protection removes the current two year qualifying period meaning employing a contractors could be a less risky option for businesses
- Again day-one rights introduced around enhanced employee benefits mean hiring a contractor could actually save you money
- Opportunity to bring in specialised contractors for specific projects or periods rather than making the commitment to a permanent hire
When hiring on a contracting basis, you often gain the advantage of accessing someone with a more advanced skill set who’s happy to take on a less senior role for a short-term period—a win-win situation!
Round Tables
Shelley Smith held a successful HR Leadership Round Table session around Flexible Working, Employee Engagement and EDI in Q3 and already has her next one in the diary for January which focuses on utilising AI in HR.
Emma Pringle also held a Round Table where she brought various senior HR professionals together from Construction/Engineering backgrounds for them to share success and challenges around attracting and retaining woman in male dominated industries as well as discussing the key challenges woman face in traditional male-orientated environments and how can we create a more supporting and inclusive workplace.
We aim to keep hosting these sessions regularly, bringing together HR professionals from diverse sectors to explore a range of topics. If you have any suggestions or would like to get involved, feel free to reach out to Shelley or Emma!
Hot topics in HR going into 2025
- Talent Shortages
- Upskilling
- Redeployment
- Retention
- Engagement
- Employee Value Proposition
- Skills based hiring
- Employee Health & Wellbeing
- Diversity, Equality, Inclusion and Belonging
- Learning & Development
Congratulations!
And finally, join us in congratulating Emma Pringle on celebrating 5 years with Iconic Resourcing! From starting as Principal Consultant to her current role as Associate Director, many in our HR network have had the pleasure of working with her, but if you haven’t yet, don’t hesitate to reach out for an introduction!
